Refrigeration – Utilizing fuel as refrigerant
Patent
1997-09-10
1998-10-13
Capossela, Ronald C.
Refrigeration
Utilizing fuel as refrigerant
62 502, F25B 1900
Patent
active
058195424
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention concerns a heat exchanger device, comprising a first heat exchanger for evaporation of liquid natural gas (LNG), and a second heat exchanger superheating of gaseous natural gas (NG) wherein the heat exchangers are arranged for heating of these fluids by means of a heating medium, which heat exchangers have an outlet which is connected to a mixing device for mixing the heated fluids with the corresponding unheated fluids.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
From the prior art, it is known that liquid natural gas, hereinafter called LNG, can be evaporated into gaseous natural gas, hereinafter called NG (see e.g. "Cryogenic commissioning of new LNG carriers", P. W. A. Eke and G. H. Gibson, LNG-5, 1977), or NG can be superheated (see e.g. "Les operations de chargement, dechargement, mise sous gas, degazage . . . ", M. Kotcharian and J. Pauthier, LNG-2, 1970), this evaporation and superheating being performed by means of separate heat exchangers. The heat exchangers can be provided on board a ship, and the medium or heating fluid whereby heat is supplied to the heat exchangers can be, e.g., steam which is supplied from a steam boiler on board the ship.
Heat exchangers of this type are used when there is a need for heating or replacement of the gas in LNG or NG tanks, e.g. on board ships, or for evaporation of LNG. This can arise if the tanks have to be subjected to inspection or maintenance, or during the manufacture of large amounts of NG by evaporation of LNG which, e.g., constitutes the cargo of the above-mentioned ship.
Furthermore, the heat exchangers are each connected via pipes, valves, etc. to their own mixing device with a mixing chamber in which heated LNG or NG can be supplied and possibly mixed with unheated LNG or NG, whereupon these fluids are supplied to a manifold, and passed to a consumers a tank or the like via a pipeline. In, e.g., the pipeline between the mixing chambers and the tank or in the manifold, there can be provided a temperature sensor which records the temperature of the fluid in the manifold and via, e.g., an electronic control device controls the opening and closing of valves for a possible supply of unheated fluid to the mixing chamber.
Thus, the known device results in an extensive pipe arrangement which requires a great deal of maintenance, since leaks can occur at flange connections, and condensation on the pipe arrangement's components as a result of the low temperature of the fluid in the pipes can cause corrosion, etc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a device of the type mentioned in the introduction which is encumbered to a lesser extent by the above-mentioned disadvantages.
The characteristics of the device according to the invention are indicated by the characteristic features of the claims presented.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawing whose only FIGURE is a schematic view of a pipe arrangement which illustrates the device according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As indicated in the FIGURE, the device according to the invention comprises a single heat exchanger 1 which comprises a housing 2, which via a pipe 3 is supplied with a heating fluid, e.g. steam, from a boiler 4 on board a ship (not shown). A pipe 5 which extends from the heat exchanger carries steam therefrom to a condenser 6.
In the heat exchanger's housing 2, there are provided a first and a second pipe structure such as a coil or the like 7 and 8, respectively, through which LNG and NG respectively can flow, and which can be surrounded by the same heating fluid.
The inlet 15 of the first pipe coil 7 is connected via a first pipe 9, in which there is provided a first shut-off valve 10, with a reservoir 11 for LNG, for the supply of LNG to the pipe coil 7.
The inlet 16 of the second pipe coil 8 is connected via a second pipe 12, in which there is provided a second shut-off valve 13, with a reservoir 14 for NG, for the supply of NG to the pipe coil 8. Thi
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Borgaas Bj.o slashed.rn
Christiansen Per E.
Capossela Ronald C.
Kvaerner Maritime AS
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